Loom



A. J. MURPHY Sept. 9, 1952 LOOM 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 2, 1947 INVENTOR LABEL 700 ARTHUR J. MURPHY ATTORNEY Sept. 9, 1952 A. J. MURPHY 2,609,840

LOOM

Filed Sept. 2, 1.947 4 Sheets-$heet 2 n llilgflllllllllllll IIIIII llllll Illll INVENTOR. ARTHUR J. MURPHY ATTORNEY p 1952 A. J. MURPHY 2,609,840

LOOM

Filed Sept. 2, 1.947 4 Sheets-Sheet s F Fi .3

.SEL'f/UNA-A Bic/70mg .S'ECUON c-c If I INVENTOR ARTHUR J. MURPHY BY 66 a ,4,

ATTORN EY Patented Sept. 9, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT Fries Arthur J. Murphy, NewYork, N. Y., assignor of one-half to S. Lawrence Atkins, New York,

Application September 2, 1947, Serial No. 771,685

15 Claims. 1

This invention relates to an electrically operated loom, and particularly to a novel method of and apparatus for raising and lowering the line threads employed in weaving labels, patterned ribbons and the like. These line threads, sometimes called warp threads, are raised and lowered in groups in accordance with a predetermined sequence determined by a selected pattern to enable the reciprocating shuttle to pass in a transverse direction. The article resulting fromthis weaving operation maybe a label or patterned ribbon or other fabric having various colors woven therein in accordance with a desired" selected pattern. The function and operation of the line threads and shuttle are well 1.

known" tothose familiar with Jacquard looms.

- It has been proposed in the past to employ relays for operating the line or warp threads, but such proposals have contemplated machines subject to numerous disadvantages which the present invention overcomes. One such known proposal is disclosed in U. S. Patent 565,447, granted August 11,1896 to E. Gates.

' The present invention provides an improved,

compact, fast-operating, electrically controlled behad by referring to the following description whichis accompanied by a drawing wherein:

Fig: 1 illustrates aview, in vertical cross-section, of the mechanical construction of the relay and line thread controlling mechanism of the invention This cross-section istaken along the.1ine:l--- tof'FigI 2;

Fig; 2 is a top plan view ofthe mechanical construction of the relay and line threadcontrolling mechanism of the invention, and is taken along the line 2- 2'of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 shows diflerent sectional-views, properly identified; of. cross-sections taken along the lines A.-.-A;.B B; IC C. and D- Dof'Fig. 1; and

Figs. 4" to. l2 inclusive. show details of' certain parts OfJthemechanism of Figs. l to 3.

,Throughoutl-the figures of .the drawing, the

same parts are represented by the same reference.

numerals; I

The mechanism of the invention includes sets or pairs oisolenoids l If; 1 2, 3 3*;4", 4'; 5, 5;

6, 6, etc. for controlling the vertical movement of different slides or actuating members 5 I, 52, 53, 54, etc., in turn controlling the vertical movements of different line thread holders lfll, )2, I03, H34, etc. Each slide, a detail of which is shown in Fig. 4-, is provided at a location intermediate the ends with a substantially rectangular-shapedaperture or hollow portion through which passes a gear G. The slide has linked thereto a linethread holder in the form of a rod having an eye [56 for carryingor holding one of the warp threads. The fabricor label being wovenis in dicated as IBEX. There is a set or pair of solenoids l and l or 2 and 2", etc. for each line thread holder, and thus it will be seen that for any number of warp threads there are a corresponding number of sets of solenoids. The solenoids l, 2, 3-, 4, etc. control the rise (viz: the up movement) of the warp threads while the solenoids l, 2, 3', i", etc.'control the descent (viz: the down movement) of the warp threads.

The two solenoids of each set or pair which control each slide (thereby controlling each line thread holder) are arranged on opposite sides of the slide and actuate separate bell-cranks 201, l'. Each bell-crank is adapted to engage'at its free end the smooth side of a rack or 25I.

The rack is pivoted at one end to one side of the slide associated withthesolenoid controlling the bell crank." Itwill thus be noted that there are provided for each warp thread the following parts: a line thread hfolder (I01 forexample); a vertically moving 'slide (5-l for example), a pair of's'olenoids (l, l-"ror example), a bell crank for each solenoid of the pair (2M or 2M) and arack (25!- or 251 for each bell crank. Each slide 51', 52; etc. islinked at its lower end to its associated line thread holder Iii-I, I02, etc. by means of alever 30!, 302, etc. Each such lever is fastenedatone end M to a bolt andis secured at 'its-other endN to theline thread holder.

The racks 2 51125 1, etc. are provided with gear teeth which are adaptedunder certain conditions to engage the" teeth of a continuously rotating gear shaft G which passes through the interior thearrow; Shaft G is driven from a gear; or-amotor, not shown. Each rack is normallyh'eldfin aposition aw'ay froin the gear shaft Gby means curved spri g 34c which is fastened at one end E to the slide. i

Each bell crank is fastened to one erid o f arod R whichpasse'sthrough an aperture in a stationary angleiron 358'. A portion o'fthe'r'od R is surrounded by a spiral compression spring S. One end of the spring S engages the fixed angle iron 350 while the other end of spring S engages a nut or collar 35I fixed on the rod R.

In the unactuated or unenergized condition of a solenoid, the associated bell crank is held in such position by the spring S and rod R that the particular rack contacted by this bell crank does not engage the rotating gear G, by virtue of the force exerted by spring 340 against the rack. In the actuated or energized condition of a solenoid, however, the associated bell crank is pulled toward the solenoid by the solenoid link I15, in turn, pulled by the magnetized solenoid armature, as a result of which the bell crank moves toward the solenoid and overcomes the force exerted by the spring S and pushes the particular rack contacted by this bell crank against the force exerted by spring 340 and causes the rack to engage rotating gear G, whereby the teeth of the gear G mesh with the teeth of the rack.

It should be noted that the two racks associated with each slide; for example, racks 25| and 25I' associated with slide 5|, are pivotally fastened to opposite sides of the slide at locations 500 and EM vertically displaced from each other. Hence, when solenoid is energized, the bell crank I will be pulled by the solenoid armature in such direction as to force rack into engagement with the gear G, as a result of which the slide 5| will ris vertically, and, by virtue of lever linked to the lower end of the slide, will cause the line thread holder |0| and the warp thread carried thereby to rise. Each lever 30| is positioned within a comb type spacer 3I0 at the end nearest the line thread holder |0I. When, however, solenoid I is energized, th bell crank 20l' will be pulled by the solenoid armature in such direction as to force rack 25I' into engagement with the gear G, as a result of which the slide 5| will descend vertically, and cause the line thread holder |0I and the warp thread carried thereby to descend. The different positions of the racks and slide are shown by the solid and dot-dash lines.

The solenoids are electrically operated by a suitable electrical circuit through brushes contacting a pattern card forming part of an endless belt which belt is constructed in accordance with known practice, such that at no time will more than one solenoid of any one set or pair associated with a slide be actuated. The pattern card has holes punched therethrough in accordance with a particular design to be reproduced on the fabric being woven by the machine of the invention. The pattern repeats itself over and over again as the endless belt pattern card advances. arranged as to permit electrical contact therethrough between a brush on one side of the card associated with one terminal of each solenoid and a metallic roller on the other side of the card associated in common to the other terminals of the solenoids. In practice, the brushes on one side of the card which are associated with difierent solenoids are arranged in a straight line in a direction transverse to the motion of the pattern card. There are twice as many brushes as there are line threads (warp threads) in the machine because the particular position of each warp thread in the weaving operation is governed by a set of two solenoids and each solenoid has a separate brush.

It is preferred in practice that each brush on the pattern card associated with a solenoid first The holes in the pattern card are so l operate a weak or small current operating relay whose contacts control a stronger electrical current for the solenoid itself. The number of line threads is governed by the width of the label or fabric to be woven.

It should be noted from an inspection of Figs. 1 and 2 that the solenoids are staggered in their locations. Such an arrangement enables a maximum number of solenoids to be supported in a relatively small space, and provides a compact mechanical construction.

The upper limiting vertical position of any one slide is indicated in Fig. l by the solid line position of slide 5|, indicated more specifically at its lower end by 400. The lower limitin vertical position of the slide is indicated in Fig. 1 by the dash-dot line position of slide 5| indicated more specifically at its lower end by 40L These limiting positions are controlled by a pair of spaced notches 402 and 403 at the upper end of the slide into which a stationary curved resilient stop slider spring 404 is adapted to enter. The details of each slide are shown clearly in Fig. 4.

It should be noted from Fig. 2 that the slides and solenoids and associated parts are mounted between two spaced metallic supporting plates P, P which are rigidly secured to each other by means of bolts 550 threadedly engaging at their ends suitable nuts The slides are stacked side by side along the length of the single gear shaft G passing through their interiors. These slides are separated from each other by upper and lower spacers SH) and GI I, respectively. Note Figs. 8 and 12. Secured to each upper spacer 6|0 to one side of the slide is a guide plate 602 having spaced slots 603 therein'for accommodating the ends of the resilient limit stop slider spring 404. This detail is shown in Fig. 7. Secured to each upper spacer 6|0 to the other side of the slide is a filler plate 6I2. Note Figs. 2 and 9.

The single gear shaft G is supported in plates P, P by means of suitable bearings 600 mounted in suitable bearing housings.

Figs. 5 and 6 show two different constructions of bell cranks employed in the mechanism of the invention to force the associated racks against the gear shaft G. These different constructions for the bell cranks are necessary in view of th staggered positioning of the solenoids which are at different distances away from the slides. a

The solenoid link detail I15 is shown in Fig. l0.

Fig. 11 is'a view along line I|-II of Fig. 5 and shows'the rivet 650 for linking the rod R to the bell crank. The details of Figs. 5 and 11 also show the location I at which the bell crank is secured to the solenoid link I15.

Fig. 3 shows diiferent cross-sectional views of the machine of the invention along sections A-A; B-B; C--C and D-D of Fig. 1. Various bolts, not hereinabove referred to, have been designated by reference numerals 15, 16, 11, 1.8 and 19 in order to more clearly correlate the parts of the machine.

Although the machine of the invention has been illustrated with the line thread holders and the slides in the vertical plane, it should be understood that the component parts of the machine. can be so arranged that these elements work in the horizontal plane or at any angle relative to the vertical or horizontal plane.-

What is claimed is: v v

1. In a loom, in combinaton, a series of warp :thread carrying elementsQa corresponding series of actuating members for said elements and capable of reciprocating motion, a single rotatable shaft for controlling the direction of movement of saidact'uating members, a pair of electrically operated devices associated with each actuating member, and a link between each electrically operated device and its associated actuatmg member, so constructed and arranged that the operation of one electrical device of each pair causes the movement of the associated member in .one direction by means of said shaft, while the operation of the other electrical device of each pair causes the movement of the associated member in an opposite direction by means of said shaft.

.2. In a loom, a line thread carrying element, an actuating member for said line thread carrying element and capable of reciprocating motion, said member having an aperture therein whose spaced sides join together and are linked to said line thread carrying element, a rotatable shaft located in said aperture between said sides and spaced therefrom, said shaft having projections thereon, levers pivotally fastened to both sides of said actuating member and oppositely disposed with respect to said shaft for engaging the projections on said shaft, and electrically operated devices for individually controlling the positions ,of said levers. I

3. In a loom, a line thread carrying element, an actuating member for said line thread carrying element and capable of reciprocating motion, said member having an aperture at a location intermediate the ends thereof, arotatable shaft in said aperture, levers pivotally fastened to both sides of said actuating member and oppositely disposed with respect to, said shaft and adapted in one position to engage said shaft for movement thereby, and electrically operated devices for individually controlling the positions of said levers.

4. In a loom, a line thread carrying element, an actuating member for said line thread carrying element and capable of reciprocating motion, said member having a hollow portion at a point intermediate the ends thereof, a rotatable shaft positioned at right angles to the length of said actuating member and having gear teeth located in said hollow portion, racks pivotally fastened to said actuating member and oppositely located with respect to said shaft, said racks having teeth adapted to mesh with the gear teeth of said shaft, springs for normally causing said racks to disengage said shaft, bell cranks for forcing said racks to engage said shaft, and electrically operated devices for selectively operating said bell cranks.

5. In a loom, a series of line thread carrying elements, an actuating member in the form of a flat metallic plate for each line thread carrying element and capable of reciprocating motion in a vertical plane, said actuating members being stacked side-by-side and separated by spacers, a movement limiting stop for each member, said members each having an'aperture at a location intermediate the ends thereof, the apertures of said members registering with each other, a single rotatable shaft passing through said apertures, a pair of levers pivotally fastened to each actuating member on opposite sides of said shaft for engagement with said shaft, whereby the actuating member associated with said levers may be driven by said shaft in either of two directions depending upon the positions of the levers, and a pair of solenoids linked to the respective levers of each actuating member.

:6. In a 100m, a series ofline thread carryin elements, an actuating member in theform of 3a fiat metallic plate for each line thread carrying element and capable of reciprocating motion :in a vertical plane, said actuating members being stacked side-by-side and separated by spacers, a

movement limiting stop for each member, .Said members each having an aperture at a location intermediate the ends thereoflthe apertures of said members registering with each other, a single rotatable shaft passing through said apertures, a

. pair of levers pivotally fastened to each actuating .flat metallic plate for. each line thread carrying element and capable of reciprocating motionin "a vertical plane, said actuating members being stacked side-by-side and separated by spacers, a

movement limiting stop for each member, said members each having an aperture at .a location intermediate the ends thereof, the apertures of said members registering with each other, a single rotatable shaft provided with gear teeth passing {through said apertures, a pair of racks pivotally fastened'to each actuating member .on opposite sides .of said shaft for meshing withsaid shaft,

whereby the particular actuating member asso .ciated withsaidpair-of racks may be drivenby said shaft in either of two directions depending upon the positions of the racks, and a pair of solenoids for each actuating member linked to the respective racks thereof.

8. In a loom, a series of line thread carrying elements, an actuating member in the form of a flat metallic plate for each line thread carrying element and capable of reciprocating motion in a vertical plane, said actuating members being stacked side-by-side and separated by spacers, a movement limiting stop for each member, said members each having an aperture at a location intermediate the ends thereof, the apertures of said members registering with each other, a single rotatable shaft provided with gear teeth passing through said apertures, a pair of racks pivotally fastened to each actuating member on opposite sides of said shaft for meshing with said shaft, whereby the particular actuating member associated with said pair of racks may be driven by said shaft in either of two directions depending upon the positions of the racks, and a pair of solenoids for each actuating member linked to the respective racks thereof, said solenoids being mounted in staggered relation for compactness of construction, said actuating members being identical in construction and said racks being of identical construction.

9. In a loom, a thread carrying element, a frame, a slide reciprocating within the confines of said frame, a link between said slide and said thread carrying element, means for driving said slide comprising a rotatable shaft and a pair of levers pivotally mounted on said slide and oppositely disposed adjacent to said shaft, and means for selectively engaging removably said levers with said shaft.

10. In a loom, a thread carrying element, a

frame, a slide vertically reciprocating within the and said line thread carrying element, means for driving said slide comprising a rotatable shaft I and a pair of levers pivotally mounted on said linked to said thread carrying element, a rotatableshaft located adjacent said slide member and having its longitudinal axis at right angles to the length of said slide member, said shaft having projections thereon, a pair of levers pivotally mounted on said slide member and disposed on opposite sides of said shaft, and means for selectively causing said levers to removably engage said rotatable shaft. I

' 12. In a loom, a thread carrying element, a frame, a slide reciprocating within the confines of said frame, a link between said slide and said thread carrying element, means for driving said slide comprising a rotatable shaft and a pair of 'levers pivotally mounted on said slide and disposed adjacent to said shaft, and means for selectively engaging removably said levers with said shaft.

f 13. In a loom, a thread carrying element, a movable slide, a link between said slide and said thread carrying element, means for driving said slide comprising a rotatable shaft and a lever pivotally mounted on said slide and disposed adjacent to said shaft, means for selectively en- 8 gaging removably said lever with said shaft, and means for returning said slide to the position it occupied before being driven by said lever.

14. In a loom, a thread carrying element, a reciprocating slide, a link between said slide and said thread carrying element, means for driving said slide comprising a rotatable shaft positioned adjacent said slide, and means pivotally mounted on said slide for selectively engaging removably said shaft with said slide.

15. In a loom, a thread carrying element, a reciprocating slide, a link between said slide and said thread carrying element, means for driving said slide comprising a rotatable shaft positioned adjacent said slide intermediate the ends thereof and at right angles to the reciprocating motion of said slide and means pivotally linked to said slide and adapted to engage said shaft, and means for selectively engaging removably said shaft with said slide.

' ARTHUR J. MURPHY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 565,447 Gates Aug. 11, 1896 1,027,860 Lavallee May 28, 1912 1,633,475 Carver June 21, .1927

, FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 248,119 Great Britain Mar. 4, 1926 

